Wisconsin Activist Ben Masel Has Died, RIP To A Great Activist

[midnight]

Source: Fire dog lake

Ben Masel has died. You may or may not have known him but he was an activists activist. When I think about what it means to be out there fighting the good fight I think about Ben.

He had run for office several times in Wisconsin and was going to be mounting another independent Senate campaign this cycle. Unfortunately lung cancer claimed his life yesterday.

He was a believer in direct action and never was one to be shut up for one second. I knew Ben through Daily Kos and got to meet him at the ’08 Democratic National Convention. He was steadfast in his beliefs and was active in the protests in Wisconsin, even though he was dying of cancer at the time.

If you did not know Ben, it was your loss. If you did it is now your loss too. He was too good for this world, too soon gone. But he does not have to be gone completely. If each of you who would class yourself an activist takes Ben’s lesson to heart, gets out there and performs some kind of direct political action, just once a year then he will never be truly lost.

I have many people in whose name I fight for economic, political and social justice. My Father, my cousin Ryan who died to young to be a force in politics, my Uncles Kenny and Otho along with my Grandfathers who were Union men their whole lives, today I add one more to that list. Ben, I know you can’t read this, but I will be speaking up and acting up in the future and when I do it will be in your name and from your example.

Read more: http://my.firedoglake.com/somethingthedogsaid/2011/04/30/wisconsin-activist-ben-masel-has-died-rip-to-a-great-activist/#comments

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I'm posting this for those who helping Wisconsin, and do so dying... Thank you Ben....

[eowyn_of_rohan]

1. Oh my God

I just saw him a couple weeks ago in the Capitol. I had learned he had cancer, but had no clue he had such a short time left. He has been an important part of Madison protests since the 1960's. I didn't know him personally but talked with him now and then at rallies. A man who stood for what he believed in...A hero to me.

[Ellipsis]

2. He was one crazy cat!

I seen him many times through the years, last time was at at the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair two years back









http://elangrafa.com/hemptour/HempTour.html




Rest in Peace Ben



.

[sabrina 1]

3. That's very sad news. I did not know him personally

but read about him often.

RIP to one of the good guys, he will be missed.

[Ohio Joe]

4. RIP - nt

[russspeakeasy]

5. Sad.. RIP.

[WillyT]

6. RIP Ben...

:cry:

:grouphug:

Peace...

[buddysmellgood]

7. RIP ben

[ClassWarrior]

8. Excellent video from March. Pure Ben.

http://youtu.be/pYRbuu-jVrM

Rest in peace, Ben.

NGU.

[malaise]

10. He must have been satisfied to see how Wisconsinites

woke up after the fabulous fourteen skipped town.

[midnight]

11. I'm sure he was, but I hope for him and Wisconsin that

we are able to stay awake long enough to recall Scott Walker. I read a poll that some prefer Russ Feingold to take Walker's place...

[midnight]

9. Mods sorry for posting too many paragraphs. I thought I kept it to four.

I just tried to edit it, but for some reason it posted all the paragraphs... Sorry I was not able to edit this earlier, but I received company right after posting this, and just now noticed that there was a problem....

[Lefta Dissenter]

12. That day in March

"What does a guy gotta do to get a citation around here?" His voice was booming through the Capitol as we paraded around with our signs. The cops were laughing, we were laughing, it was a great time, despite the fact that we all knew that Ben was there against the advice of his doctors.

That was the day after Jeremy, Valerie and Lauri had received their first citations for holding signs on the first floor of the rotunda, instead of in the "demonstration area" on the ground floor. It became apparent that there had been instruction to not cite Ben for his protest. 14 citations have been issued since that day.

We visited Ben in the hospital last week. He was dictating status updates for us to post to facebook. We were able to tell him that some of the citations had already been dismissed, and that 11 more were scheduled for dismissal.

Ben was an amazing man, with just an incredible outlook on life and death. May we all find such peace in our lives.

We'll miss you, Ben. :grouphug:

[AllyCat]

13. He was a fixture around here. I know I voted for him once or twice

RIP Mr. Masel. You will be missed.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

14. I just read he was only 56, and moved here in '71

I thought he had been here a little longer than that ...He sure hit the ground running.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

15. I met him three times, and each time was a joy.

He will be sorely missed.

[patrice]

16. What a great tribute! The real ones live on in us. I never knew you, Ben, but thanks for your work!

SOLIDARITY!!!

[undeterred]

17. Kick!

I just saw the news today. RIP Ben, you will be missed.